Air cooler



G. N. cRoUcH July 9, 1940.

AIR COOLER I Filed Sept. 2, 1959 Patented July 9, 1940 narran staresPATENT GFFECE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to air coolers, and it is a particular object ofthe invention to provide a device of this kind to be placed within anenclosed body of a truck or the like to maintain the air within saidbody at a relatively low temperature.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of this kindcomprising a box containing the desired cooling medium, such as ice, andwherein means are provided for causing air Within the body of a truck orkindred chamber to travel in a tortuous path thru the box for dischargewithin the box or chamber.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved aircooler whereby certain important advantages are attained and the devicerendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient andadvantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be denitely claimed.

t In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawingwherein Fig. 1 is a view partly in vertical section and partly inelevation illustrating an air cooler constructed in accordance with anembodiment of my invention, the line of section being substantially onthe line I-I of Fig, 2.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View on substantially the line 2--2 ofFig. 1.

My improved device as herein disclosed comprises a box B of desireddimensions and which is adapted to be placed within the enclosed body ofa truck or other chamber and adjacent to an end wall of such body orchamber. The ytop portion of the box B at one end thereof and at a pointat substantially its center is provided with the transversely disposedflat members or panels I and 2. The space between the panels I and Z isadapted to be closed by a removable door 3 while the space between themember or panel 2 and the end of the box B remote from the member orpanel I is adapted to be closed by the door 4. The doors 3 and 4 providemeans whereby ice may be readily placed within the box B.

Extending upwardly from the member or panel 2 is a riser pipe 5 which ispreferably of a length to closely approach the top or roof of the closedbody or chamber. The upper end of the riser pipe 5 is continued by ahorizontally disposed vpipe or conduit 'I of a length to terminate atapproximately the center of the body or chamber. The outer end portionof this pipe or conduit 'I is provided with a discharge nozzle hereindisclosed as of a type to dischargethe air therefrom in divergingstreams. It is to be stated at this time, however, that insofar as thepresent invention is concerned, the exact location of the nozzle withrespect to the body or chamber in which it is positioned forms noessential partof the invention as such nozzle may be positioned where itis believed the best results can be obtained.

Extending within the box B thru the member or panel I is a desirednumber of air intake pipes 8. kThe lower end portion of each of thesepipes 8 is in communication from above with a manifold 9 of desiredlength and preferably of a length to substantially bridge the spacebetween the side walls IIB of the box B but spaced therefrom suicientlyto allow ice water or brine to substantially completely surround themanifold. The inner wall II of the manifold 9 has in communicationtherewith a plurality of spaced parallel ues IZ'arranged side by side'and which also communicate with a second manifold I4 thru the innerwall I5 thereof. This manifold I 4 also extends substantially entirelyfrom one side wall II) of the box B to the other. The manifold I4 is of'a size' to vdepend a material distance below the iiues I2 andthe'manifold I4 below the flues I2 has in communication therewith thruits inner wall I5 a lsecond series of flues I6. Theseues I6 are inparallelism and are arranged side by side in such spaced relationwhereby the flues I2 and I6 are staggered. 'Ihe flues I6 are also incommunication with a manifold I'I thru the inner wall I8 thereof. 'I'hismanifold I'I is positioned below the manifold 9 f and is ofsubstantially the same length as the manifold 9. l

Underlying the manifolds I4 and the iiues IIS is a duct I9 of a widthsubstantially equal to the widths of the manifolds I4 and II. One endportion of the duct I9 is in communication, as at 20, with the manifoldI1 thru the bottom wall 2| thereof. The duct I9 at its extremity remotefrom the manifold I1 is continued by a vertically disposed duct 22 whichpasses between the manifold I4 and the adjacent end wall 23 of the boxB. This vertical duct 22 extends a desired distance above the manifoldI4 and has vcommunication with a fan housing 24 thru the bottom wall 25thereof. Suitably supported within the opposite end I l and alsoportions of the housing 24 are the suction fans 26 of a conventionaltype and driven in any manner desired altho it is preferred that thesame be driven by an electric motor in communication with a battery orother suitable source of electrical energy.

The fans 26 include discharge nozzles 21 which extend out thru the innerWall 28 of the housing 24 and discharge within the upper portion of thebox B.

It is to be pointed out that the flues l2 and I6 are each in crosssection in the form of an inverted V. This allows for quick chilling andby having i the ues I6 in staggered relation allowance is made for allof the flues to have close contact with the ice as the ice melts anddrops.

It is also to be pointed out that the arrangement of the flues l2 and I6together with the ducts I9 and 22 is such as to assure quick chilling ofthe air as it is drawn therethru by the fans 26. By having the nozzles21 discharge within the upper portion of the box B the melting of theice within the box B is sufficiently retarded to render the use of theapparatus highly economical.

It is further to be stated that the closure members or doors 3 and 4when applied effect airtight closures and it is to be pointed out thatthe eiciency of the apparatus is further increased by having the fans 26contained within the housing 24.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that an aircooler constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly welladapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which itmay be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that myinvention is susceptible of some change and modification withoutdeparting from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason'Ido not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precisearrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carryingout my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim: 1. An air cooler comprising an enclosed box, a

discharge pipe leading from the upper portion of the box, two manifoldsin one end portion of the box, one of said manifolds being positionedabove the other, a single manifold in the opposite end portion of thebox, flues interposed between and connecting the uppermost of the rstnamed manifolds with the single manifold, ues connect ing the singlemanifold with the lower of the rst two manifolds, the upper of the firsttwo manifolds being in communication with the outside atmosphere, a ductunderlying the second named flues and in communication with the lower ofthe rst named manifolds, said duct being continued by a verticallydisposed duct, a housing within the upper portion of the box with whichthe vertically disposed duct communicates, and a suction fan within thehousing for drawing outside air thru the manifolds, flues and ducts anddelivering such air within the upper portion of the box for dischargethru the discharge pipe.

, i 2. An air cooler comprising an enclosed box, a

discharge pipe leading from the upper portion of the box, two manifoldsinlcne end portion of the box, one of said manifolds being positionedabove the other, a single manifold in the opposite end portion of thebox, flues interposed between and connecting the uppermost of the firstnamed manifolds with the single manifold, iiues connecting the singlemanifold with the lower of the first two manifolds, the upper of thefirst two manifolds being in communication with the outside atmosphere,a duct underlying the second named lues and in communication with thelower of the iirst named manifolds, said duct being continued by avertically disposed duct, a housing within the upper portion of the boxwith which the vertically disposed duct communicates, and a suction fanwithin the housing for drawing outside air thru the manifolds, flues andducts and delivering such air within the upper portion` of the box fordischarge thru the discharge pipe, each of the fiues in cross sectionbeing substantially in the form of an inverted V.

GARLAND N. CROUCH.

